Former SB Resident Associated with Two Preschools is Arrested in Sex Abuse Case Involving Five Children in Apple Valley

Santa Barbara - June 25th, 2013

A former Santa Barbara resident who had ties to two preschools in the area until 2007 is in the San Bernardino County Jail charged with sexually abusing five children who live in Apple Valley, CA. 56-year-old Paul Hultman of Apple Valley was arrested on June 23rd by Apple Valley Police. The Apple Valley Police Department contracts with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

At around 3:43 p.m. on June 23rd, Deputies responded to a disturbance call in the 16000 block of Winnebago Road. The parents of a girl confronted Hultman after finding out she had been sexually abused by Hultman. Deputies made contact with Hultman and transported him to the Apple Valley Police Station. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Detectives responded and assisted with the investigation. Five victims from the neighborhood, including four girls ages 12 to 15 and an 8 year old boy, disclosed that Hultman was sexually abusing them in exchange for gifts and/or money. Hultman was arrested, transported to the San Bernardino County Jail, charged with the continual sexual abuse of a child and is being held on one million dollars bail.

Hultman was associated with the Sherwood Montessori School located at 487 N. Turnpike Rd. in Santa Barbara, which closed in 2007, and the Sherwood Montessori House of Children located at 5070 Cathedral Oaks Rd. in Santa Barbara. Mr. Hultman’s association with the schools stems from his previous marriage to the owner/licensee of both facilities.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Detectives are conducting an investigation to determine if there are additional victims in the Santa Barbara area. If you have any information regarding this case, you are asked to call the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Bureau at (805) 681-4150. You can remain anonymous by calling the Sheriff’s Tip-line at (805)681-4171.